Solar energy expansion in China linked to bird biodiversity loss

A study published in the journal Science suggests that China’s rapid expansion of solar power is contributing to a decline in bird biodiversity. Researchers from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, in collaboration with international partners, analyzed data from 2,344 Chinese counties between 2014 and 2023. The findings indicate that the conversion of cropland and grassland into solar arrays has reduced the habitats necessary for various bird species.

The research highlights a “green dilemma” where efforts to meet carbon neutrality goals by 2060 may conflict with wildlife conservation. The impact was noted to be more significant in wealthier, non-desert counties where ecological complexity is higher. To mitigate these effects, authors suggested prioritizing solar development in desert regions and implementing phased rollouts rather than sudden large-scale expansions.

However, the study has faced scrutiny from the Chinese scientific community. Experts from the China Ornithological Society have pointed to potential “flaws” in the birdwatching data used in the research, specifically regarding the reliability of crowdsourced datasets from the China Birdwatching Record Center.